General Music Chat

No doubt that using multiple microphones, with some proper positioning and a good-sounding guitar (and room) is the preferred method. Sometimes my home is just too noisy. I started tracking this song using DI, just to see what it would sound like.

http://soundcloud.com/mikebirch/di-guitar-demo

4+ tracks of DI-ed acoustic, plus bass. Haven't done any real mixing yet, just panned the guitars a little so that they are easier to distinguish. I think the sound is pretty good for DI, although I will still mic up my old Epi in the future when I can.

No doubt that using multiple microphones, with some proper positioning and a good-sounding guitar (and room) is the preferred method. Sometimes my home is just too noisy. I started tracking this song using DI, just to see what it would sound like.

http://soundcloud.com/mikebirch/di-guitar-demo

4+ tracks of DI-ed acoustic, plus bass. Haven't done any real mixing yet, just panned the guitars a little so that they are easier to distinguish. I think the sound is pretty good for DI, although I will still mic up my old Epi in the future when I can.

DI was used in good taste however, ya still need a noise gate and punch in and punch out will clean up the sound even more.

Great guitar playin' Crystal Blue Persuasion

nice Sound... Nice instrumental

Simply beautiful.

Jeanette and I both enjoyed this very much with our morning coffee.

Thank you.

DI was used in good taste however, ya still need a noise gate and punch in and punch out will clean up the sound even more.

Great guitar playin' Crystal Blue Persuasion

ACKKK! - I can name at least 4 other songs that use a major7 to minor 7 chord pattern the same way! This one is Dmaj7 to Em7 with open D and A strings. Crystal Blue is Gmaj7 to Am7, no open strings, and that's the only similar thing to the chord pattern (I hope!)

Like I said, no mixing or FX or automation added at this point.

By the time I track the vocals, (and probably add some strings), the noise issues will disappear. I've got 4 different lead tracks done, too, so might comp pieces of each.
Thanks for the comments, George and Dog.

I usually don't post partially-completed songs, but there's been a lot of back-and-forth on the homerecording.com forums about recording acoustic guitar, so thought I woudl share this. There's a million ways to do it, and if I was doing a single guitar track I certainly wouldn't DI it - but performers have to do it live all the time. And not everyone can afford a $2000 Taylor either (but I do love their plugged-in sound!)

DI was used in good taste however, ya still need a noise gate and punch in and punch out will clean up the sound even more.

Great guitar playin' Crystal Blue Persuasion

ACKKK! - I can name at least 4 other songs that use a major7 to minor 7 chord pattern the same way! This one is Dmaj7 to Em7 with open D and A strings. Crystal Blue is Gmaj7 to Am7, no open strings, and that's the only similar thing to the chord pattern (I hope!)

Like I said, no mixing or FX or automation added at this point.

By the time I track the vocals, (and probably add some strings), the noise issues will disappear. I've got 4 different lead tracks done, too, so might comp pieces of each.
Thanks for the comments, George and Dog.

I usually don't post partially-completed songs, but there's been a lot of back-and-forth on the homerecording.com forums about recording acoustic guitar, so thought I woudl share this. There's a million ways to do it, and if I was doing a single guitar track I certainly wouldn't DI it - but performers have to do it live all the time. And not everyone can afford a $2000 Taylor either (but I do love their plugged-in sound!)

the tone on the rhythm gtr(s) was ok but the lead gtr tone is a little too sterile and stuffy sounding for my tastes. (amount used of) reverb/delay is very subjective and personal but i think that some (or more) reverb on the lead gtr might impart a little more "air" to it.

one of my favorite ways of recording acoustic gtr is using an X / Y pattern w a cpl of small condensors... one aimed at the bridge and the other around the 12th fret in conjunction w using the old D'Armond magnetic soundhole pickup in my '36 Martin O-17 either thru a small mic'd amp or even DI'd.

Hell I just plug my acoustic in! LOL!

Hell I just plug my acoustic in! LOL!

hehehe.

reminds me of the old "unplugged" deals on VH1. plugged in acoustic gtrs, mic'd drums, and the bassplayer playing the ubiquitous (plugged in) acoustic/electric bass. unplugged, my tuchuss!

oh yeah...and they sat down cos' as we all know...THAT's how ya play "acoustic" music!

the tone on the rhythm gtr(s) was ok but the lead gtr tone is a little too sterile and stuffy sounding for my tastes. (amount used of) reverb/delay is very subjective and personal but i think that some (or more) reverb on the lead gtr might impart a little more "air" to it.

one of my favorite ways of recording acoustic gtr is using an X / Y pattern w a cpl of small condensors... one aimed at the bridge and the other around the 12th fret in conjunction w using the old D'Armond magnetic soundhole pickup in my '36 Martin O-17 either thru a small mic'd amp or even DI'd.

Well, considering I haven't added any FX to this at all - yet - I'm sure there will be some reverb on the whole thing, not jus tthe lead track!
I tried a large diaphragm condensor vs Shure SM57 on my Epi acoustic and in the room I was tracking in could not tell the difference in picked-up sound - except that the condensor is more likely to pickup sound from outside the room.
I just got a couple of GSL sm57 clones, so the next time I record acoustic (and have some quiet), I am going to X/Y bridge and 12th fret and try a third track at the same time with my Markley soundhole pickup. I have been using 1 SM57 plus pickup and liked the ability to add some high end from the pickup to the mix.
I'm sure if I was recording in a well-treated soundproof room, SDCs would be the way to go.

the tone on the rhythm gtr(s) was ok but the lead gtr tone is a little too sterile and stuffy sounding for my tastes. (amount used of) reverb/delay is very subjective and personal but i think that some (or more) reverb on the lead gtr might impart a little more "air" to it.

one of my favorite ways of recording acoustic gtr is using an X / Y pattern w a cpl of small condensors... one aimed at the bridge and the other around the 12th fret in conjunction w using the old D'Armond magnetic soundhole pickup in my '36 Martin O-17 either thru a small mic'd amp or even DI'd.

Well, considering I haven't added any FX to this at all - yet - I'm sure there will be some reverb on the whole thing, not jus tthe lead track!


I tried a large diaphragm condensor vs Shure SM57 on my Epi acoustic and in the room I was tracking in could not tell the difference in picked-up sound - except that the condensor is more likely to pickup sound from outside the room.
I just got a couple of GSL sm57 clones, so the next time I record acoustic (and have some quiet), I am going to X/Y bridge and 12th fret and try a third track at the same time with my Markley soundhole pickup. I have been using 1 SM57 plus pickup and liked the ability to add some high end from the pickup to the mix.
I'm sure if I was recording in a well-treated soundproof room, SDCs would be the way to go.

yep, that's the thing about large diaphragm condensors...they do like to pick up anything in the same zip code!

i picked up a matched pair of really small Behringer C-2 small diaphragm condensors (i believe they've been discontinued) new in a pkg that included mics, double mic mount tree, mic clips, windscreens, and hard case for $40.

these things are GREAT! they work good as drum overheads too. and at this price i don't have a heart attack if they get knocked around a little.

you really don't need a sound proof room w these (and most) small diaphragm condensors...they have a cardioid pickup pattern so for the most part stayed pretty focused at where ya aim them.

I dont do much acoustic recording, but if you want to listen to the intro to Pinball Wizard on here, we plugged it in with the internal electrics, and also put SM 57 kinda close to the soundhole, we then panned them right and left, and one side we put a slight delay on, say 10-20 MS. Hell I like that trick on vocals and guitars, sounds great to me.

There arent any rules to recording, just as long as you get a good sound that you are proud of recorded.

I dont do much acoustic recording, but if you want to listen to the intro to Pinball Wizard on here, we plugged it in with the internal electrics, and also put SM 57 kinda close to the soundhole, we then panned them right and left, and one side we put a slight delay on, say 10-20 MS. Hell I like that trick on vocals and guitars, sounds great to me.

There arent any rules to recording, just as long as you get a good sound that you are proud of recorded.

If we can get through a day without spilling a starbucks all over the mixing board (Followed by a beating) then that's a good session

DI was used in good taste however, ya still need a noise gate and punch in and punch out will clean up the sound even more.

Great guitar playin' Crystal Blue Persuasion

ACKKK! - I can name at least 4 other songs that use a major7 to minor 7 chord pattern the same way! This one is Dmaj7 to Em7 with open D and A strings. Crystal Blue is Gmaj7 to Am7, no open strings, and that's the only similar thing to the chord pattern (I hope!)

Gmaj7, Em7, minor 7, B flat, C minor Pizza and Beer...Nope

What I was thinking when I was playing your song was that "This guy is as good if not better than Eddie Gray's playin' on the song, Crystal Blue Persuasion at the time it was done. Nothing more, nothing less " That is why I said "Great Guitar Playin"

Gmaj7, Em7, minor 7, B flat, C minor Pizza and Beer...Nope

What I was thinking when I was playing your song was that "This guy is as good if not better than Eddie Gray's playin' on the song, Crystal Blue Persuasion at the time it was done. Nothing more, nothing less " That is why I said "Great Guitar Playin"

Thanks, I think!

Brought a keyboard home from band practice Monday night and hooked it up for recording last night. Not sure how (hit some buttons), but ended up with a nice pleasant slow-rotary organ sound on it, so started playing along with the acoustic guitar tracks and it sounded just right. Love it when stuff just flows together.
I added 3 more strings tracks, which I may or may not use for bridge/chorus accents when I get to mixing.
Now I just need some quiet time in the house so I can track the vocals.